Royal revenues Flashcards
How did the King collect money through the royal demesne?
The land provided him with money from rent, from hunting forests, manorial estates and towns, e.g. tallage. Sales of goods in towns were taxed.
What was tallage?
Compulsory land tax paid by tenants - townsmen and peasants - so a mark of low status.
The king / a baron could set the sum unreasonably high, but people could appeal against it.
What was the role of sheriffs?
Sheriffs collected all taxes due from the royal demesne. They were set a fixed sum to collect and could keep any surplus - they became very wealthy.
What were scutages?
Paid by Barons instead of providing knight service to the King. The money was used to hire professional soldiers during wartime.
What were Wardship Fines?
If a Baron died while his heir was a minor, his land was returned to the King. The King would cater for the heir’s education and living needs but, upon reaching maturity, the heir would need to pay a fine to the King (however much the King wanted) to inherit his father’s land.
What were Forest Fines?
Designated areas of forest were under the protection of the king. He could claim forest fines from those living, working, hunting or foraging on the land, affecting everyone in the feudal system.
What were aids? Give one example.
Taxes payable in exceptional circumstances. One example was John’s 1207 tax on moveable income.
What was John’s 1207 tax on moveable income?
A tax, imposed on the possessions every man, at a rate of a 13th of the value (one shilling per mark). The penalty for failure to pay was seizure of moveables and imprisonment. People went to great lengths to hide their goods - it was extremely unpopular and never used again.
How did the King raise money from legal cases?
All fees from court cases were paid to the King, and all possessions of anyone convicted of a crime went to him.
How did John raise money from court cases?
John suspended the role of Justiciars, meaning he could be “bought” in legal cases. He raised considerable funds in return for favourable judgments in court, leading to complaints that he sold justice. For example, in 1207, John supported a case that a party - who offered him three horses in payment - wanted to come to court.
“Feudal incidents” was an umbrella term, covering which taxes and fines?
1) Charges required from the King’s vassals to pay his ransom.
2) To knight the king’s eldest son
3) To pay for the King’s eldest daughter’s dowry
4) Wardship fines
5) Forest fines
6) Inheritance fines
What were inheritance fines?
A tax people had to pay in order to inherit land and property.
How did the King raise money by selling offices?
It was usual for positions like Sheriff to be bought - both kings sold many.
How did Richard raise money by selling offices?
Richard raised vast amounts of money, within a few months of becoming king in 1189, for his crusade. He then, in 1194, raised money for war in France by charging men to retain the offices they had bought in 1189.
